Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/446

 414: FIJI AXD THE FIJIAIs'S. The war between Mbau and Rewa raged furiously, and bloodshed, and rapine, and scenes of cannibalism too horrible to describe, sur- rounded the Missionaries on all hands. In the earlier part of this year the members of the missionary band at Viwa were themselves greatly quickened. Their Class-meetings brought extraordinary blessing ; and as these good men and their devoted wives increased in spiritual power themselves, the effects were soon manifest in the improved religious state of the native Teachers and members, and in the deepening impression made on the Heathen round them. As there is no position which makes the need of deep piety and close commmiion with God so fully felt as that of the Chris- tian Minister, so there is no sphere of ministerial labour where this necessity is so imperatively demanded, as in that of the Missionary among a savage and abandoned people. A zeal which is born of excite- ment, or fed by any motives lower than the constraint of Christ's love, must languish and die out in such a case. For a Missionary thus placed to remain merely faithful, as far as liis own personal piety is concerned, requires no ordinary measure of grace. The secondary checks and helps furnished by the observation and example of others among whom goodness is prized, are here absent. But faithfulness to his great commission demands exposure to unnumbered hardships, privations, and dangers ; the prosecution of arduous labour, M'here exertion is almost painful, and, in some cases, actual torture ; the unwearied sowing, when barren disappointment seems to crush every seed ; the heart-sickening bitterness of hope deferred ; together with the absolute exclusion of all occupation and enterprise not directly connected with his one spiritual work. And if little is said in these pages of the wives and families of the Missionaries, it is not because they are forgotten, but only because the compass of this history demands the exclusion of everything not actually essential to the completeness of the record. Of the women of this Mission it may well be said. Their praise is of God. In the Mission work itself their help has been beyond price ; and there, where the public gaze may not pierce, in the midst of suffering and annoyance, one tithe of which would overwhelm average Christian women M'ith despair, they have created a home and a retreat even of joy for the men who toiled to the death on behalf of Christ. Mr. Hunt felt deeply im- pressed that nothing but entire holiness of heart would do for him- self and his companions in labour. Giving his whole heart and mind up to the teaching of Scripture on this matter, he preached about it